Miniature hats

ABSTRACT

A plastic miniature hat is provided with a plug of paperboard or the like in spaced relation to the hat crown. A hat securing cord is attached to the plug. The plug is slotted to admit coins so that the hat may serve as a coin bank.

United States Patent 1 Peham [111 3,748,660 [451 July 31,1973

[ 1 MINIATURE HATS [75] Inventor: Engelbert J. Peham, St. Paul, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Peham Plastics, Inc., St. Paul, Minn. 221 Filed: Mar. 17,1971

[21] Appl. No.: 125,102

[52] U.S. Cl. 2/175 [51] Int. Cl A42b 7/00 [58] Field of Search 206/.83, .84; 229/85; 2/196, 199, 198, 185, 171.3, 177, 175, 195

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,496,575 2/1970 'Neckermann et al. 2/198 2,682,666 7/1954 Mayer 2/175 1,869,652 8/ 1932 Baker 661,509 11/1900 Fogg 2,532,857 12/1950 Ricciardi 229/85 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIQNS 1,472,626 l/1967 France 2/ 196 Primary Examiner-George H. Krizmanich Attorney-Robert M. Dunning [57] ABSTRACT A plastic miniature hat is provided with a plug of paperboard or the like in spaced relation to the hat crown. A hat securing cord is attached to the plug. The plug is slotted to admit coins so that the hat may serve as a coin bank.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIEU M31 3.748.660

sum 1 or 2 F/ G. .9 INVENTOR ENGELBERI' J. PEI-{AM BY WW PATENIED JUL 3 I973 SHEET 2 BF 2 fi l l uu lllitllll| a llil! INVENTOR ENGELBERT J. PEHAM BYQ W. QM9\Q J n n ATTORNEY MINIATURE HATS This invention relates to an improvement in miniature hats, and deals particularly with a head decoration which may be used at parties, conventions, festivals and similar occasions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Miniature hats have been produced of paper and other materials which are used to provide a festive atmosphere. These hats are usually provided'with cords which may or may not be elastic for securing the hat in position upon the head. In view of the fact that the hats are actually minature models of larger hats, they are not ordinarily unusual or novel in appearance except for their size.

During recent years, the use of plastic in the production of party hats and the like has greatly increased. Hats are produced which simulate straw hats of the type known to the trade as skimmers. Other plastic hats which simulate derby hats, top hats, western hats and the like has also become increasingly popular for use at conventions and similar gatherings. They are often used with a decorative hatband to identify persons attending a convention or similar group. It is now proposed to expand the use of hats of this type to include miniature hats which are virtually the same in shape and design as the full sized hats, and which are capable of serving a similar purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The use of plastic hats has expanded to a point where I certain restaurant chains sell or give away plastic hats for use by customers to provide a carnival atmosphere to those present. In view of the cost involved, it has been proposed to provide minature hats in numerous styles which may be sold or given away to customers or which may be given as premiums. These hats are produced in a variation of styles with the object that customers may collect a complete selection of hat styles by regularly patronizing a restaurant or by obtaining a number of the hats as premiums. One of the problems lies in providing a means of securing these hats upon the head. A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel means of anchoring an elastic band to the hat, the band being arranged so that it can be extended about a part of the head to hold the hat in place. In view of the fact that miniature hats of the type in question must be produced for low cost, the hat securing means must be low in cost, and must be attached to the hat in a manner which will result in a minimum cost to the purchaser.

As hats of the type in question are given away or sold at extremely low prices, the means for securing the hat to the head must not result in a great increase in shipping cost. Most types of hats will nest together in a reasonable compact form. However, if the fastening means is such as to prevent the nesting of the hats in shipment, the shipping costs will materially increase the price of the product.

In view of the fact that hats of the type in question are merely for decorative purposes, it is also desirable that they have a secondary use. I have found that such hats may serve the secondary purpose of a coin bank. The crown of the hat may serve as a receptacle for coins if means are provided for insertion of the coins into the hat crown.

extends under the slot intersecting the ends of the slot.

With this arrangement, the coins may be readily inserted through the slot, the insertion of the coins flexing the resilient band out of slot intersecting position. However, after the coin has been inserted, the band returns to its previous position intersecting the slot, preventing the coins from being accidentally removed.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set .forth inthe following specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hat in use.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing the miniature hat construction.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view indicating one manner in which the elastic band may be secured to the hat.

FIG. 4 is a planned view of the paperboard plug which serves as an anchor for the elastic band.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of hat.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a hat illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the inverted hat showing the manner in which the elastic band is anchored to the hat.

FIG. 8 is a diagramatic view of the paperboard plug forming a part of the hat construction.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a series of hats in nested relation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The hat A which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings is of a type commonly known as a derby." The hat includes a brim 10 which preferably curls upwardly at its outer edge as indicated at 11. The riser portion of the hat includes a substantially vertical lower portion 12 which terminates in an inwardly extending shoulder 13. The upper portion 14 is rounded to simulate in appearance a derby hat. The hat may be formed of plastic material which can be either black or brown or otherwise colored. A hatband l5 encircles the substantially vertical lower edge portion of the hat and this hatband may be printed with suitable identification means, or may simulate in appearance the usual derby hat.

The generally vertical portion 12 of the hat is of importance as the offset portion 13 of one hat is designed to engage against the brim of an identical hat. The arrangement is such that when identical hats are nested together, the area of the hat between the offset 13 and the brim 10 is exposed. This is of importance, as it permits the paper hatbands 15 to be applied around the generally cylindrical portions 12 when the hats are nested together. Under usual circumstances, the molded plastic hats are nested together, and the paper hatbands are placed into riser encircling position while the hats are in this nested position.

A plug 16 of paperboard or similar material is frictionally engaged within the substantially vertical lower portions 12 of the hat to fit against the shoulder 13. The paperboard plug 16 is firmly wedged in place so as to remain a portion of the hat. If desired, inwardly extending ears such as 17 may be provided to hold the plug 16 more firmly engaged. However, the actual frictional engagement between the plug and the hat is usually sufficient to hold the plug firmly in place. The plugs 16 are packaged separately, and are inserted by the person receiving the hat.

An elongated slot 19 is provided in the center of the plug 16 designed to accommodate coins. The slot is preferably long enough to accommodate a coin of fifty cent denomination. Apertures 20 are provided near opposite sides of the plug 16 a resilient cord 21 is provided, the ends of which are anchored to hollow pins 22. The pins 22 are inserted through the apertures 20 and lie flat against the plug 16 so as to hold the ends of the resilient cord anchored to the plug.

The cord 21 may be of sufficient length to extend beneath the chin of the wearer, or the cord may extend about the rear portion of the head in order to hold the hat in place upon the head of the wearer.

While the foregoing description describes a derby type hat, the specific shape of the hat may be varied to simulate hats of various types. I-Iats of the type known as Skimmers and vwestern type hats are produced. FIG. 5 through 8 of the drawings disclose a miniature hat simulating in appearance a top hat or opera hat. This hat also includes a brim 25, a riser portion 26, and a crown 27. As indicated in FIG. 7 of the drawings, the brim 25 is usually curved upwardly. The riser portion 26 includes a lower substantially vertically walled portion 29 and an upper vertically walled portion 30. These wall portions 29 and 30 are connected by an offset 31 which forms a shoulder extending about the hat on a place substantially parallel to the lower edge of the riser. A hatband 28 is shown encircling the lower vertically extending wall portion 29 and in the particular arrangement illustrated, the upper portion 30 of the hat is also encircled by a vertically striped area 32.

A plug 33 is frictionally engaged within the lower portion 29 of the hat and engaged against the shoulder 31. As indicated in FIG. 8 of the drawings, the plug 33 is centrally slotted as indicated at 34 to accommodate coins. A rubber band 35 encircles the plug 33 and is engaged in notches 38 on opposite sides of the hat. The rubber band is designed to serve as a means of securing the hat on the head. However, it will be noted that the upper portion 36 of the band intersects the slot 34 intermediate its ends. As a result, when the coin is inserted through the slot 34, the rubber band must be flexed out of position in order to gain access to the area between the plug 33 and the hat crown 27. When the coin has been inserted, the band 36 snaps back into slot intersecting position, and prevents the coins within the hat from being shaken or otherwise removed from the body of the hat.

In accordance with the Patent Office Statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in miniature hats, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. A miniature hat including:

a brim, a riser, and a crown,

said riser having a substantially vertical annular inner wall surface adjoining said brim at the lower end and ending in an inwardly extending annular shoulderat the upper end spaced from said brim, a flat plug extending across the interior of said riser adjoining said shoulder and closing off said crown,

said crown adjoining said shoulder from the upper end thereof,.said riser, a cord secured to said plug at spaced locations and extending downwardly from said plug, and a coin slot of fixed size extending through said plug. 3

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said cord comprises an endless elastic band extending across said plug on the interior side thereof and intersecting said coin slot. 

1. A miniature hat including: a brim, a riser, and a crown, said riser having a substantially vertical annular inner wall surface adjoining said brim at the lower end and ending in an inwardly extending annular shoulder at the upper end spaced from said brim, a flat plug extending across the interior of said riser adjoining said shoulder and closing off said crown, said crown adjoining said shoulder from the upper end thereof, said riser, a cord secured to said plug at spaced locations and extending downwardly from said plug, and a coin slot of fixed size extending through said plug.
 2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said cord comprises an endless elastic band extending across said plug on the interior side thereof and intersecting said coin slot. 